WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: The pensioner remained acutely aware all through the horror assault, the decide mentioned.
John McColl died a month after the assault (Picture: Cheshire Police/PA Wire)
The proprietor of an XL bully which killed a pensioner in a “savage assault” has been jailed for 12 years. John McColl, 84, was attacked by the canine, owned by Sean Garner, after the pensioner wandered on to the driveway of Garner’s dwelling in Warrington, Cheshire, in February final yr. He died from his accidents a couple of month later.
He suffered “catastrophic facial accidents” within the 45-minute assault, Liverpool Crown Courtroom heard on Friday. The animal, which was referred to as Toretto and weighed 7st 4lb, was shot 10 instances by armed police and a second canine present in the home was additionally shot. An examination of the canine later discovered it had no meals in its abdomen, but it surely had begun to eat Mr McColl alive.
Sean Garner has been jailed (Picture: Cheshire Police/PA Wire)
Addressing Garner in court docket, Mr McColl’s granddaughter Kelly Percival, 33, mentioned: “Your canine principally ate my grandad, however you and your loved ones don’t care.”
Garner, 31, regarded down as Ms Percival learn a press release, by which she mentioned he had denied her grandfather a “dignified loss of life”.
Mr McColl’s daughter, Joann Percival, 57, informed the defendant: “You robbed us of our dad, grandad, great-grandad, however you don’t care and it’s not OK.”
The defendant was discovered responsible after a trial of being the proprietor of a canine which induced damage whereas dangerously uncontrolled.
Jailing Garner, Decide Brian Cummings KC mentioned: “The struggling skilled by Mr McColl was fairly unspeakable and actually doesn’t bear dwelling on.”
He mentioned the retired metal erector, who remained acutely aware all through the assault, will need to have been in “absolute agony”.
The trial heard Mr McColl was on his means dwelling from the pub shortly after 6pm on February 24, 2025, when he walked into the driveway of Garner’s dwelling, the place the canine had been left on a patio space which the prosecution alleged was solely secured by a gate with a latch.
Neighbours described utilizing objects together with a spirit degree and a strolling persist with try to get the canine away from Mr McColl.
David Birrell, prosecuting, mentioned law enforcement officials who attended the scene had suffered flashbacks and wanted counselling after witnessing the “savage” assault.
He mentioned: “The Crown allege a listing of failures by the defendant which induced the canine to be dangerously uncontrolled and thereby induced the loss of life of Mr McColl.”
Toretto weighed 7st 4lb (Picture: Cheshire Police/PA Wire)
The court docket heard Garner, his then-pregnant companion and two kids had moved into the semi-detached dwelling three weeks earlier than the incident and informed the owner they’d one French bulldog, regardless of proudly owning a micro bully and two XL bullies, a breed which was banned in 2024.
Garner claimed Toretto, who he had beforehand described as “lacking a number of nuts and bolts”, had been put in a small shed on the patio which he secured with a padlock.
His declare that Mr McColl will need to have unlocked the shed and opened it was described by the prosecution as “absurd”.
Decide Cummings mentioned: “If there ever was any regret it’s utterly nullified by these offensive lies.”
He mentioned Garner had contested the “uncontestable” and informed him: “I can’t settle for that you’ve got proven any true regret.”
Garner, who has earlier convictions for driving and medicines offences, pleaded responsible earlier than his trial to 2 counts of proudly owning an XL bully with out an exemption certificates.
Mr Birrell mentioned: “The defendant has convictions which reveal a historical past of reckless disregard for the legislation and for security.
“On the time of this incident, regardless of working a restoration enterprise driving up and down the nation, he was disqualified from driving.”
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Lloyd Morgan, defending, mentioned: “Sean Garner does categorical his deepest sympathy to the household of Mr McColl for the loss, and the way of the loss, of their beloved member of the family.”
He mentioned Garner was the first carer for his companion Lauren Lawler, who had been identified with stage three Hodgkin lymphoma and, when she was unwell, he cared for his or her kids.
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